Kamla extends Hanuman Jayanti greetings

AS CHRISTIANS celebrate Easter this weekend, the Hindu community will be observing Hanuman Jayanti, the birth of Hindu deity Lord Hanuman.

This, Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, said is a sterling example of how people from different ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds can live together in harmony and respect each other’s traditions.

Persad-Bissessar said Hanuman was the son of the wind god Pawan, a celestial being who possesses supernatural strength. Hanuman is a symbol of courage, strength and hope.

He symbolically stood for pure devotion, complete surrender and absence of ego, and was likened to the disciplined mind.

Hanuman Jayanti involves prayers, fasting, offerings and the chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa, which is a hymn of praise to Hanuman, who is best known as the most loyal devotee of Lord Rama.

Persad-Bissessar said in the Holy Ramayan, Hanuman’s life was one of righteousness and the triumph of good over evil.

His devotion and dedication to Lord Rama were profound, and he faithfully carried out his Lord’s wishes, using his wisdom and supernatural powers to help defeat King Ravan, the embodiment of evil.

“In these uncertain times, we should turn to Sri Hanuman to give us the strength to join together to rid our nation of the darkness that has taken hold in our nation, and to bless us with the courage to stand up against tyranny and oppression as he did in the epic story of the Holy Ramayan.

“As we move forward, let us unite and commit to building a brighter, more prosperous future for our nation.

“We must keep hope and faith alive in our hearts, and work as Sri Hanuman did, towards fulfilling our purpose – ensuring a better future for our children and grandchildren.”